Calla lily plant named ‘Purple Heart’

ABSTRACT

A calla lily plant particularly distinguished by its purple-black flower color, higher flower count, and leaves with white maculation is described.

Genus and species: Zantedeschia spp.

Variety denomination: ‘Purple Heart’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia spp., and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Purple Heart’. The new cultivar was asexuallyreproduced from vegetative cuttings and tissue culture resulting fromthe cross of the female parent ‘Purple Seedling’ (unpatented) and themale parent, ‘Pacific Pink’ (unpatented).

‘Purple Heart’ is a product of a planned breeding program intended tocreate new calla lily plants with purple spathes.

The new cultivar was created in Tauranga, New Zealand and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by tissue culture in New Zealand. Thepresent invention has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new calla lily plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the blooms and foliage of the plant. The colors shown are astrue as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

FIG. 1 shows the mature inflorescence.

FIG. 2 shows the overall plant habit.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Purple Heart’. The data that define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inNew Zealand. The plant history was taken on two-year-old plants based ona 3 cm diameter tuber under New Zealand summer conditions. Colorreferences are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical name.—Zantedeschia spp.        -   Common name.—Calla lily.-   Size:    -   -   Form.—Erect.        -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—45-60 cm.        -   Height of top of inflorescence above the soil.—50-60 cm.        -   Diameter.—25-40 cm.        -   Number of inflorescences per tuber size.—Tuber diameter 3            cm: 1-3. Tube diameter 4 cm: 2-5. Tube diameter 5 cm: 4+.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Width: 7-12 cm. Length: 18-25 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 137C.        -   Maculation (leaf spots).—General: Maculation is only on the            upper surface of the leaf but is visible from the lower            surface. Density: Medium. Color: RHS 155C.        -   Apex.—Acute to apiculate.        -   Margin.—Moderately wavy.        -   Margin color.—RHS 144A (yellow-green).        -   Veins.—Pinnate.        -   Surface texture.—Leathery.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average number.—1 to 3.        -   Length.—20-25 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.6-0.8 cm.        -   Color.—Lower portion: RHS 144B. Upper portion: RHS 144A.            Base: RHS 155D.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Character.—Strong.        -   Sheath.—Width: 0.6 cm to 0.8 cm. Length: 4 cm to 6 cm.            Color: RHS 144A (green).-   Roots:    -   -   Color.—RHS 155 D (white).        -   Branching.—Not branched, attached to the top of the tuber at            the apices.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—6-10 weeks            depending on climate and environment.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—2-3 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Flower description:    -   -   Spathe (flower body).—Size: Height: 8-11 cm. Width: 4-6 cm.            Color: Upper surface: RHS 59A to RHS 187A. Lower surface:            RHS 187A. Veins: Color: RHS 202A (black-purple). Shape:            Fluted. Texture: Smooth. Shape: Cup-shaped. Apex: Caudate.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.        -   Spadix (reproductive organs).—Size: Length: 2-2.5 cm.            Diameter: 0.4-0.7 cm. Color: Base: RHS 187A. Upper: RHS            187A. Position relative to spathe: Upright. Shape:            Elongated. Apex: Rounded.        -   Peduncle (flower stem).—Length: 35-55 cm. Diameter:            0.5-0.8 cm. Color: Base: RHS 144B. Upper: RHS 144A. Texture:            Smooth. Strength: Strong.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.        -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.        -   Perianth (the floral envelope, calyx and            corolla).—Conspicuous.        -   Stamens.—Not visible before pollen release.        -   Pollen color.—White.        -   Pistil.—Number: 20-30 per spadix. Color: RHS 186D.-   Fruit:    -   -   General.—Whole fruit is round and 3.0-3.5 cm wide and            4.0-6.0 cm long; individual berries are 0.5-0.7 cm in            circumference.        -   Number.—10-20 berries.        -   Color.—RHS 187A.-   Disease and insect resistance:    -   -   Disease resistance.—No susceptibility noted to date.        -   Pest resistance.—No susceptibility noted to date.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN CULTIVARS

When ‘Purple Heart’ is compared with the female parent ‘Purple Seedling’(unpatented), the flower shape of ‘Purple Heart’ is fluted while theflower shape of ‘Purple Seedling’ is round. Additionally, the leaf shapeof ‘Purple Heart’ is ovate while the leaf shape of ‘Purple Seedling’ iscordate.

When ‘Purple Heart’ is compared with the male parent ‘Pacific Pink’(unpatented), the flower color of ‘Purple Heart’ is purple while theflower color of ‘Pacific Pink’ is pink. The flower shape of ‘PurpleHeart’ is fluted while the flower shape of ‘Pacific Pink’ is round.Additionally, the leaf shape of ‘Purple Heart’ is cordate while the leafshape of ‘Pacific Pink’ is ovate.

‘Purple Heart’ differs from the comparison variety ‘Blackjack’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 15,808) in that ‘Purple Heart’ has a purple spathe, while‘Blackjack’ has a dark-purple spathe. Additionally, ‘Purple Heart’ has alonger peduncle (35 cm to 55 cm in length) than ‘Blackjack’ (20 cm to 40cm in length).

1. A new and distinct cultivar of calla lily plant as shown anddescribed herein.